Your questions answered about Rethink Maths National Trials

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Who can take part in the trials?

We’re looking for Nursery and Reception settings of all types – school-based nurseries, private nurseries, voluntary settings, maintained schools, and academies. Settings will need to commit to implementing the programme as designed and engaging with the evaluation process, including surveys and observations.

How do I sign up to the trials?

Head down to the bottom of the page and register your interest and we’ll be in touch with further details. Keep reading to find out more information about both the trials and the programmes in general.

What support will we receive?

This isn’t a programme you’ll be left to figure out alone. Participating settings will receive:

  • Face-to-face launch training delivered by our team of early years and maths specialists at regional locations
  • A full pack of programme resources including physical materials needed to deliver the sessions
  • Video guidance showing the programme in action, so you can see exactly what good implementation looks like
  • Ongoing support from a dedicated development coach – including on-site visits and virtual check-ins
  • Access to our expert team throughout the trial to answer questions and help problem-solve
  • Webinars and online support to connect with other participating settings and share learning

We’re with you every step of the way.

What resources and materials will we get?

Every participating setting will receive everything needed to deliver the programme, including:

  • Comprehensive practitioner guidance for every session
  • Physical resource packs with manipulatives and materials
  • Access to online video content and guidance
  • Parent and carer materials to support learning at home

You won’t need to source or create anything yourself.

Is participation really free?

For the efficacy trials, yes, participation is fully funded. You’ll receive all training, resources, and support at no cost. We want to remove barriers and make it as easy as possible for settings to take part in shaping these programmes.
For the effectiveness trials, we’re asking settings to contribute 25% towards the cost of the programme . This keeps participation highly accessible while giving settings a genuine stake in the work.

What about Year 1 and Year 2?

The current funded trials focus on Nursery and Reception. The full programme to Year 2 is currently in development. If you’re interested in materials for Year 1 and Year 2 – including future trial opportunities and the eventual programme launch (expected 2027-28) – sign up to our newsletter to stay informed.

How does the Nursery programme work with children starting at different times and varied attendance?

We know nursery life isn’t like school. Children join at different points in the year, attend on different days, and may only be with you part-time. We’ve designed Rethink Maths Foundations with this in mind.
The programme revisits key ideas again and again across the year, so children who start later or attend less frequently still have regular opportunities to encounter the important concepts. There’s no pressure to “catch up” — children dip in and out, building understanding gradually through repetition and varied experiences.
It’s designed to work with the reality of nursery, not against it.

We currently use a similar programme. How does this fit in?

Our programme is designed to be a complete approach to early number, so we’d see it as an alternative to similar programmes rather than something to run alongside it. All similar programmes share similar aims – building strong number sense and mathematical understanding – but take different approaches to get there.

If what you’re currently doing is working well for your children and staff, we believe there’s no need to change. However, if you’re curious about what we’re building, we’d love to hear from you.

Is this screen-based/digital?

No. The programmes are intentionally screen-free, built around physical resources, talk, modelling and play. Technology supports training and guidance but not daily teaching.

What’s the aim of each programme?

Nursery

A one-year Nursery programme that focuses on the thinking, language, and habits children need to make sense of number when they meet it.

Reception to Year 2

This programme builds deep, secure understanding of number from Reception to Year 2. Children will explore how numbers are made, how they relate to each other, and how they change. This journey through early number culminates in confident additive thinking and reasoning. Research shows that children who have this firmly in place by age 7 are set up positively for the maths that follows.

We’re not trying to cover everything. Just as phonics prepares children for reading, we want to prepare children for mathematics.

Is it right for everyone?

Honestly? Probably not. We know that some practitioners and settings have reservations about structured, systematic approaches to maths and we respect that.
Our programme isn’t about rote learning or drilling facts. It’s about building genuine understanding – helping children see how numbers work, not just memorise what to do.
The structure is there to support understanding, not replace it. If you believe children benefit from clear routines, consistent language, and explicit teaching moments alongside rich opportunities to explore and apply their learning, we genuinely think you’ll feel at home with what we’re building. In addition, with regular, low-key observational assessment woven throughout, you’ll always know where every child is and therefore be able to put the right support in place at the right time.
If you’re not sure, get in touch. We’re always happy to talk.

Will I need to attend training?

Yes, we ask that those members of the team who will be delivering the programme in schools attend training before the trial begins. This face-to-face training is essential for understanding the programme and getting the most out of it. Training will be held at central locations and we’ll work with you to make attendance as easy as possible.

Can international schools take part?

The funded trials are for settings in England only, so unfortunately we can’t include international schools in the trial phase.
However, the programmes themselves are about developing early number sense — and that’s the same wherever you are in the world. We’ve designed both programmes to be international in nature, so they’ll work in any setting focused on building strong mathematical foundations in the early years.
If you’re an international school interested in the programmes, register your interest below and we’ll keep you informed as they become more widely available.

How do I find out more?

Register your interest or sign up to our newsletter using the forms below, and we'll be in touch with more details as recruitment opens.
Register your interest Sign up to our newsletter

Register your interest

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Foundations Newsletter

Even if the trial is not the best option for you, you can still stay in the loop. Sign up here to stay up to date with all upcoming information including for international schools and teachers of Years 1 and 2.